JP2010509731A - Method and apparatus for bidirectional control of chromaticity and diffusion of a light beam - Google Patents

Abstract

  The lighting device (100) includes a flexible color filter material (308) coupled to a scroll mechanism (500), the scroll mechanism for placing a selected portion of the color filter material on a portion of the light beam from the lighting device. The material is moved in the first direction. Means coupled to this mechanism may move the mechanism in the second direction (506) so that another portion of the light beam passes through unfiltered. Different regions (B-I) of this color filter material create different chromaticities, and the means may rotate the scroll mechanism substantially parallel to the plane of the color filter material. The illumination device may include a second scroll mechanism (110) coupled to a flexible diffusing material (310) to diffuse at least a portion of the light beam of the illumination device by a predetermined amount.

Description

  The present invention relates to an automatic illumination device, and more particularly to an apparatus, system, and method for controlling the chromaticity and saturation of a light beam from a light source.

  The chromaticity of the light beam can be controlled by arranging a color filter so that all or part of the light beam passes. If this color filter is made of a flexible material, color filters of different chromaticities may be mounted side by side to create a series of filters. Such a series may be attached to a motorized scroll mechanism ("color filter scroll device") that is remotely controlled to place selected portions of the series in the light beam.

  When using a color filter scroll device to control the chromaticity of the light beam produced by the illuminator, the size of this series of individual color filters is typically selected to be slightly larger than the diameter of the light beam. Prior to using the lighting device, the user may select one or more color filters of desired chromaticity for inclusion in the filter chain. The user then operates the color filter scroll device to position the desired color filter so that it completely covers the light beam during use of the lighting device, so that the light beam of the desired chromaticity is applied to the lighting device. May be made.

  In the filter series, the color filter may be placed beside a transparent panel of flexible material. Such a filter chain may be arranged such that a part of the light beam passes through the color filter and the rest of the light beam passes through the transparent panel. The resulting light beam will be a combination of colored light and white light. This light beam will have the chromaticity of the color filter, but due to the addition of this white light, the chromaticity is light or poorly saturated. In this way, the chromaticity of the light beam can be controlled before using the lighting device by placing a color filter of the desired chromaticity in the color series, and the colored light of this beam during use in the lighting device. The saturation of the light beam can be controlled by the ratio of white light to white light.

  The filter series of color filters may be placed next to another color filter having a different chromaticity. Such a filter series may be arranged such that a part of the light beam passes through a certain color filter and the rest of the light beam passes through an adjacent color filter. The chromaticity of the resulting light beam will be a combination of the two chromaticities. In this way, the chromaticity of the light beam can be controlled by the ratio of the two chromaticities of the light of the beam during use of the lighting device, and a color filter of the desired saturation can be applied before using the lighting device. Saturation of the light beam can be controlled by arranging in color series.

  Accordingly, there is a need for an apparatus, system and method for controlling both chromaticity and saturation of a light beam during use of a lighting device. Further, there is a need for an apparatus, system and method that uses a flexible color filter to control both the chromaticity and saturation of the light beam during use of the lighting device.

  The present invention provides an improved method for controlling both chromaticity and saturation of a light beam with a flexible color filter during use of a lighting device. An automatic mechanism according to the present invention may place a selected ratio of two color filters in the light beam while leaving the selected amount of light beam unfiltered.

  More specifically, an aspect of the invention includes a flexible color filter material coupled to a light source and a scroll mechanism, the scroll mechanism configured to select a selected portion of the color filter material into a first portion of a light beam from the light source. It may be in a lighting device that can move this flexible material in a first direction for placement in. Different regions of the color filter material filter the light beam to produce different chromaticities. Means coupled to the scroll mechanism move the scroll mechanism in the second direction so that the second portion of the light beam does not pass through selected portions of the color filter material.

  Another aspect of the invention may be in a method for controlling the characteristics of a light beam. The method includes moving a flexible material in a first direction with a scroll mechanism. The flexible material is moved to place a selected portion of the material in the first portion of the light beam. The method also includes the step of moving the scroll mechanism in a second direction different from the first direction. This movement places the flexible material so that the second portion of the light beam does not pass through selected portions of the material.

  Yet another aspect of the invention includes a flexible color filter material coupled to a scroll mechanism, the scroll mechanism for placing a selected portion of the color filter material in a first portion of a light beam from a light source. There may be a device that can move this flexible material in the first direction. Different regions of the color filter material filter the light beam to produce different chromaticities. Means coupled to the scroll mechanism move the scroll mechanism in the second direction so that the second portion of the light beam does not pass through selected portions of the color filter material.

  The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the features and technical advantages of the present invention in order that those skilled in the art may better understand the detailed description of the invention that follows. Additional features and advantages of the invention will be described hereinafter that form the subject of the claims of the invention. Those skilled in the art should appreciate that the concepts and specific embodiments disclosed can be readily used as a basis for modifying or designing other configurations to accomplish the same objectives as the present invention. Those skilled in the art should also realize that equivalent constructions thereof do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention in its broadest form.

  Before embarking on the following “Mode for Carrying Out the Invention”, it may be convenient to provide definitions of certain terms used throughout this patent document. The terms “include” and “include”, and derivatives thereof, mean inclusion without limitation. The term “or” includes the meaning of and / or. The phrases “associated with” and “associated with”, and derivatives thereof, include, include, connect to, communicate with, cooperate with, alternate, locate, juxtapose to It can mean binding, possessing, or the like. The term “control device” means any device, system, or part thereof that controls at least one operation, such device being hardware, firmware or software, or at least some combination of the two. You may carry out together. It should be noted that the functionality associated with any particular controller may be centralized or distributed, whether local or remote. Definitions for certain phrases are provided throughout this patent document, and those skilled in the art will, of course, to many, if not most, for future use of such defined phrases. It should be understood that this also applies to previous uses.

For a more complete understanding of the present invention and its advantages, reference is now made to the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like numerals refer to like objects.
1 is a schematic, cutaway side view of an automatic lighting device according to the present invention. The rear view of the scroll mechanism for using for the illuminating device of FIG. 1 is shown. Fig. 2 shows chromaticity and diffusion sequences usable in the embodiment of the present invention shown in Fig. 1. The operation of the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 1 is schematically shown. The operation of the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 1 is schematically shown. FIG. 2 is a schematic view of an apparatus for moving a scroll mechanism according to the present invention. It is the fracture | rupture schematic of the illuminating device by this invention.

  The various embodiments used to explain the principles of the present invention in FIGS. 1-6, discussed below, and in this patent document are merely illustrative and should be construed as limiting the scope of the invention in any way. Not. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the principles of the present invention may be implemented in any suitably configured wireless communication network.

  FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of an automatic lighting device according to the invention. A lamp 102 is mounted near the focal point of a parabolic or near parabolic reflector 104. Scroll mechanisms 108 and 110 are mounted across the exit opening of the parabolic reflector 104. At this position, the flexible material carried by the scroll mechanisms 108 and 110 blocks the light rays 112A-C emitted by the sphere 102. Ray 112A travels directly from this sphere to the mouth of lighting device 100, while rays 112B and 112C reflect from reflector 104 before exiting from the mouth of lighting device 100.

  The flexible material carried by the scroll mechanism 110 may be a flexible diffuser material. The flexible material carried by the scroll mechanism 108 may be a color filter material. The color filter material may be fabricated as a dichroic filter that has the advantage of reflecting rather than absorbing almost all light at frequencies that did not pass through the filter. As a result, the filter material remains cold and does not require frequent replacement. Alternatively, the color filter material may be made from a conventional color gel.

  Although the illumination device 100 is depicted with a parabolic reflector, it will be appreciated that the color filter scroll device according to the present invention may also be used in illumination devices with elliptical reflectors or no reflectors. It will be. Similarly, the color filter scroll device according to the present invention may be used in lighting devices having any kind of light source, for example LED, filament or arc light source. The lighting device according to the invention may be used, for example, in theater, concert, movie or architectural lighting applications.

  The flexible diffuser material used for the scroll mechanism 110 may be a holographic diffuser, such as an LSD® light-formed diffuser film manufactured by Physical Optics of Trans, California, USA. Other flexible diffusing materials may additionally or alternatively be used without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

  Although FIG. 1 depicts an embodiment of the present invention having a flexible diffuser material carried by a scroll mechanism, an illuminating device according to the present invention otherwise directs a light beam passing through a color filter scroll device according to the present invention. You will find that they can be mixed. In another embodiment of the invention, a glass or acrylic lens, such as a Fresnel lens, may be used. Such a lens may be fixedly or removably attached to the lighting device. Such removable attachment allows the user of the illuminator to select a lens that provides the desired amount of beam divergence for use in the illuminator.

  In yet another embodiment, a single piece of flexible diffusing material may be attached to the frame and the frame fixed or removably attached to the lighting device. In such an embodiment, the removable attachment will again provide the benefit that the diffusing material can provide the desired degree of diffusion to the lighting device.

  In yet another example of implementation of the present invention, the illumination device may be designed to include an optical system that has the effect of scrambling the rays of the light beam passing through the color filter scroll device according to the present invention. Such an optical system may mix the colors of this light beam without the need for a flexible diffusing medium or lens.

  FIG. 2 shows a rear view of a scroll mechanism 200 suitable for use as the scroll mechanism 108 in the illumination device of FIG. A housing 202 may mechanically support the components of the scroll mechanism 108. An opening 204 in the housing 202 allows the light beam from the light source 102 (including light rays 112A-C) to pass through the housing 202 and the flexible color filter material 210.

  This color filter material 210 is wrapped around rollers 206 and 208 at both ends. Motor 212 drives this roller 206 through belt 214 and pulleys 216 and 218. The roller 208 may be spring loaded to maintain the color filter material 210 in tension between the rollers 206 and 208. The motor 212 winds the color filter material 210 around the roller 206 to position a desired portion of the color filter material 210 across the opening 204 and thus across the light beam from the light source 102. It may be remotely controlled by techniques known to those skilled in the art for attaching or rewinding.

  FIG. 3 shows color filters and diffusing materials (or reams) that can be used in the scroll mechanism of the lighting device 100. The color filter series 308 may be installed in the scroll mechanism 108. The diffusion ream 310 may be installed in the scroll mechanism 110. In the manner described with respect to FIGS. 4A and 4B, the scroll mechanism 108 selects a selected portion of the color filter train 308 and the scroll mechanism 110 passes a selected portion of the diffuser train 310 across the exit of the reflector 104 to provide a light source. 102 and the light beam from this reflector 104 may be actuated.

  The color filter series 308 is shown as having panels AJ. These panels A and J may include tip material that is used to attach the color filter train 308 to the rollers of the scroll mechanism 108. Panels F and H may include a transparent material that does not color the light beam from light source 102. Panels B-E, G and L may include different color filter materials. Panels BI may be substantially square with vertical and horizontal dimensions approximately equal to (or slightly larger than) the mouth diameter of reflector 104.

  The color run 308 in FIG. 3 shows a clear border between the panels that is perpendicular to the sides of the color run. However, it will be appreciated that other border lines may be used between the panels without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. For example, diagonal borders or serrated edges to the panel may be used.

  In fact, the collar run 308 may be made without any clear boundaries. For example, the gradual transition between the color filter area and the transparent area (or between adjacent areas with different color filters) can be produced as a pattern with discrete areas of transparent material across the combined areas of color filter material. May be. The density of the transparent areas may increase at some point until the areas of transparent material are combined and the areas of color filter material are separated. The density of the color filter area may then decrease until the gradual transition from color filter to transparency is complete. It will be appreciated that other techniques known to those skilled in the art may be used to make a gradual transition from colored to transparent, or from one color to another.

  A diffusion / pattern series 310 is shown having panels K-P. These panels K and P may include tip material used to attach this diffusion / pattern series 310 to the rollers of the scroll mechanism 110. These panels L-O may include holographic lenses, such as, for example, an LSD® light-shaping diffuser film manufactured by Physical Optics, Inc. of Trans, California. These panels L-O may include materials selected to produce a progressive beam with increasing omnidirectional diffusion to create a round beam with an increased degree of divergence. In another embodiment of the present invention, one or more panels L-O may include a material that produces rectangular beams having different divergence levels and different divergence levels in the horizontal and vertical directions.

  Thus, the scroll mechanism 110 may operate to position any of the panels L-O across the mouth of the reflector 104. Panels L-O as described may act to diffuse the light beam to a predetermined divergence.

  As described with respect to the color series 308, the diffusion / pattern series 310 may be fabricated with a transition between panels other than the clear vertical boundary shown in FIG. Such gradual transitions or non-vertical boundaries may function to smooth the transition from one amount of diffusion to another or from one pattern to another.

  FIG. 4A shows the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 1 in operation. A scroll mechanism 400 similar to the scroll mechanism 108 of FIG. 1 may include rollers 406 and 408. The scroll mechanism 400 may operate to place a color series, such as the color series 308 shown in FIG. 3, across a reflector port 404, such as the reflector 104 shown in FIG.

  The scroll mechanism 400 operates to position one of the colored series of panels completely across the reflector mouth 404 so that the light beam from the reflector is completely colored or uncolored. It may be. Alternatively, the scroll mechanism 400 may be operated to position a desired portion of the color filter series across the portions 410 and 412 of the light beam exiting the reflector port 404.

  For example, a portion of the colored panel and a portion of the adjacent transparent panel may be placed across the reflector mouth 404. This will color part of the light beam and leave the rest uncolored. Similarly, the scroll mechanism 400 may operate to place a portion of one colored panel and a portion of an adjacent colored panel across the mouth 404 of the reflector. In this way, a portion of the light beam will have a first chromaticity and the rest will have a second chromaticity.

  If a diffusing material as shown in FIG. 3 is placed across such a partially colored or multicolored light beam, the effect is that this light beam is integrated into a single, mixed color. right. In this way, a desired amount of white light and colored light can be mixed to produce a light beam having the desired saturation between a light color and a fully saturated color. Similarly, a desired amount of two colors can be mixed with a light beam to produce a light beam of the desired color.

  The scroll mechanism 400 can move the color filter train in a first direction (lateral in FIG. 4A) to position selected portions of the color filter train across the light beam exiting the reflector mouth 404. As shown in FIG. 4B, the scroll mechanism 400 also moves the color filter series in the second direction (vertical direction in FIG. 4B) so that the light beam portion 424 does not pass through the selected part of the color series. May be. This color string is used to place a desired amount of one color filter across the portion 420 of the light beam and a corresponding amount of another color filter across the portion 422 of the light beam. You may move in this first direction. This color string may also be moved in this second direction to leave the light beam portion 424 unfiltered or remain white. In this way, the scroll mechanism may move the color filter train in the first direction to produce a light beam of desired chromaticity and in the second direction to produce a light beam of desired chromaticity. .

  FIGS. 5 and 6 show two embodiments of the present invention having different devices for moving the scroll mechanism across the reflector mouth 508 in the second direction referred to in the description of FIG. 4B. In FIG. 5, a scroll mechanism 500 is mounted on rails 502 and 504 to allow movement in the direction indicated by arrow 506. An aperture 510 in the scroll mechanism 500 places a desired amount of one color filter across the light beam portion 520 and a corresponding amount of another color filter across the light beam portion 522. Allow the color chain to move for placement. The scroll mechanism 500 may move along rails 502 and 504 to pass the beam portion 524 through unfiltered.

  In one embodiment of the present invention, scroll mechanism 500 may be moved in direction 506 by a cable. In another embodiment, this movement may be generated by a rack and pinion mechanism. In yet another embodiment, a solenoid mechanism or linear actuator may move the scroll mechanism 500.

  FIG. 6 shows a schematic diagram of another illumination device 600 embodying the present invention. A lamp 602 may be mounted in the reflector 604 to emit the light beam 612. A scroll mechanism 608 may be provided around the shaft 630, and the color series carried by the scroll mechanism 608 may be disposed across all or part of the light beam 612. When arranged as shown in FIG. 6, portion 620 of light beam 612 passes through this color series and portion 624 remains unfiltered.

  In one embodiment of the present invention, the scroll mechanism 608 may be moved by a rotary motor attached to the shaft 630. In other embodiments of the invention, the pivoting motion of the scroll mechanism 608 about the axis 630 may be generated by a cable or linear motor.

  In another embodiment of the present invention, the color filter material in scroll mechanism 608 may include dichroic filter material. The color of light that passes through the dichroic filter depends in part on the incident angle of light that strikes its surface. The tilting movement of the scroll mechanism 608 changes the angle of incidence of the light beam 612 onto the color filter material and allows the portion 624 of the light beam 612 to pass through without filtering. Therefore, when the dichroic filter material is used for the scroll mechanism 608, both the chromaticity and the saturation of light are generated by the lighting device 600.

  Although the lighting device of FIG. 1 is depicted as having one color scroll mechanism and one diffusion scroll mechanism, it will be appreciated that additional embodiments may include additional scroll mechanisms in embodiments of the invention. right. Furthermore, in other embodiments of the invention, the scroll mechanism may carry a flexible material including both a color filter material and a diffusing material.

  The scroll mechanism of the lighting device shown in FIG. 1 has a roller on the same side of the light beam, but in another embodiment of the invention, one or more scroll mechanisms are rotated 90 degrees about the longitudinal axis of the light beam. You will see that it is okay. Moreover, in other embodiments, the flexible material may be wrapped around these rollers to spread between the sides of the rollers closest to the light source. In this way, the rollers of the two scroll mechanisms can be arranged in the same plane, thereby reducing the length of the lighting device according to the invention.

  Although the present invention has been described in detail, those skilled in the art should understand that various changes, substitutions and modifications can be made herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention in its broadest form.

Claims (21)

A lighting device,
light source,
A flexible material coupled to a scroll mechanism that moves the flexible material in a first direction and causes a first portion of the light beam from the light source to pass through a selected portion of the flexible material. A material comprising first and second regions that can be used to place selected portions of the flexible material, wherein the flexible material provides corresponding first and second predetermined amounts of color filtering of the light beam; and The scroll mechanism can be used to move the flexible material in a second direction different from the first direction and position the flexible material such that the second portion of the light beam does not pass through the second portion of the flexible material. An illumination device including means coupled to a scroll mechanism. The lighting device of claim 1,
A second flexible material coupled to the second scroll mechanism, the second scroll mechanism configured to allow the light beam to pass through a selected portion of the second flexible material. Can be used to place selected parts of
The illumination device further includes first and second regions in which the second flexible material diffuses corresponding first and second predetermined amounts of the light beam. The lighting device according to claim 2,
A third flexible material coupled to the third scroll mechanism, wherein the third scroll mechanism moves the flexible material in a third direction and the third portion of the light beam is a selection of the third flexible material. Can be used to position selected portions of this third flexible material to pass through
The illumination device further includes first and second regions in which the third flexible material performs corresponding first and second predetermined amounts of color filtering of the light beam. The lighting device according to claim 3,
Moving the third scroll mechanism in a fourth direction different from the third direction and preventing the fourth portion of the light beam from passing through a selected portion of the third flexible material. A lighting device further comprising second means coupled to the third scroll mechanism that can be used to position the first scrolling mechanism.   The illumination device of claim 1, wherein the surface of the flexible material is substantially planar and the means moves the scroll mechanism in a direction substantially parallel to the plane of the surface of the flexible material. apparatus.   2. A lighting device according to claim 1, wherein the surface of the flexible material is substantially planar and the means has a rotation axis substantially parallel to the plane of the surface of the flexible material. A lighting device that rotates around.   7. The lighting device according to claim 6, wherein one of the first region and the second region of the flexible material includes a dichroic filter. A method of controlling the characteristics of a light beam for use in a lighting device,
The flexible material is moved in the first direction with a scroll mechanism to cause the selected portion of the flexible material to perform a first predetermined amount of color filtering of the light beam so that the selected portion of the flexible material has a first portion of the light beam. The step of placing in,
Moving the scroll mechanism in a second direction different from the first direction to position the flexible material such that the second portion of the light beam does not pass through a selected portion of the flexible material. The method according to claim 8, comprising:
The second flexible material is disposed in the light beam such that the first portion of the second flexible material causes a first predetermined amount of diffusion of the light beam. Moving a second material with a second scroll mechanism, and a second portion of the second flexible material such that the second portion of the second flexible material causes a second predetermined amount of diffusion of the light beam. Moving the second flexible material with a second scroll mechanism for placement in the light beam.   10. The method of claim 9, wherein a selected portion of the third flexible material is moved to a third predetermined amount of the light beam by moving the third flexible material in a third direction with a third scroll mechanism. Placing the selected portion of the third flexible material in the third portion of the light beam for color filtering.   11. The method of claim 10, further comprising placing the third flexible material such that a fourth portion of the light beam does not pass through a selected portion of the third flexible material. Moving the third scroll mechanism in a fourth direction different from the third direction.   9. The method of claim 8, wherein the surface of the flexible material is substantially planar and the step of moving the scroll mechanism moves the scroll mechanism in a direction substantially parallel to the plane of the surface of the flexible material. A method comprising the step of moving to.   9. The method of claim 8, wherein the surface of the flexible material is substantially planar and the step of moving the scroll mechanism is substantially parallel to the plane of the surface of the flexible material. A method comprising rotating around a rotation axis.   The method of claim 13, wherein the selected portion of the flexible material comprises a dichroic filter. An apparatus for controlling the characteristics of a light beam,
A flexible material coupled to the scroll mechanism that moves the flexible material in a first direction and allows the first portion of the light beam to pass through a selected region of the flexible material. A material comprising first and second regions that can be used to place selected regions of material, wherein the flexible material provides corresponding first and second predetermined amounts of color filtering of the light beam, and a scroll mechanism A scroll mechanism that can be used to move the flexible material in a second direction different from the first direction and position the flexible material such that the second portion of the light beam does not pass through the second portion of the flexible material. A device containing combined means. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising:
A second flexible material coupled to the second scroll mechanism, the second scroll mechanism configured to allow the light beam to pass through a selected region of the second flexible material. Can be used to place selected parts of
An apparatus comprising first and second regions wherein the second flexible material provides corresponding first and second predetermined amounts of diffusion of the light beam. The apparatus of claim 16, comprising:
A third flexible material coupled to the third scroll mechanism, wherein the third scroll mechanism moves the flexible material in a third direction and the third portion of the light beam is formed of the third flexible material; Can be used to position the selected region of this third flexible material to pass through the selected region;
An apparatus wherein the third flexible material further comprises first and second regions that perform corresponding first and second predetermined amounts of color filtering of the light beam. The apparatus of claim 17, comprising:
Moving the third scroll mechanism in a fourth direction different from the third direction and preventing the fourth portion of the light beam from passing through a selected region of the third flexible material. The apparatus further comprising second means coupled to the third scroll mechanism that can be used to position the first scroll mechanism.   16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the surface of the flexible material is substantially planar and the means moves the scroll mechanism in a direction substantially parallel to the plane of the surface of the flexible material.   16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the surface of the flexible material is substantially planar and the means moves the scroll mechanism about an axis of rotation substantially parallel to the plane of the surface of the flexible material. Device to rotate into.   21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein one of the first region and the second region of flexible material includes a dichroic filter.

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